Physiological response patterning in short--and long--term heart rate control training

The present investigation assessed the physiological response patterns which accompany heart-rate control performance, both early and late in training. Six subjects were employed who received six heart-rate control training sessions, half of which were speeding sessions and half of which were slowing. Heart rate, skin resistance, frontalis EMG, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiration rate were continuously recorded throughout all training sessions. Results indicated that the physiological response topography during heart-rate control performance changes from early to late training. Moreover, the changes are different for speeding and slowing performance, suggesting the involvement of different underlying physiological mechanisms in the two tasks.